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Tuesday, August 20, 2013

As expected, World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen took up acres of space on the Sports Pages of the Indian print media these last few days. Carlsen, with his team, was in India to inspect World Chess Championship 2013 venue for his match against World Champion Viswanathan Anand later this year. Here are some of the choicest quotes Indian journalists liked, wrote about and pushed to Page 1 of their publications:

-- I can speak for myself, and I am not part of the computer generation. I grew up with a chess board and books. (When asked if younger players such as Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Luigi Caruana, Sergey Karjakin and he are more computer-centric, as regards preparation and the way they approach the game as compared to Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Gelfand and others.)

-- It was a great learning experience for me. For the 2010 match against Topalov, I offered a little advice but Anand did not follow it! You will really appreciate how great a player Anand is when you interact with him (Query on working with Anand in a previous World Chess Championship event.)

-- The Russians are still a force in chess! (The last time two non-Russian-speaking players played for the World title was in 1921 with Jose Raul Capablanca versus Emmanuel Lasker in Havana, Cuba.)

-- More people in Norway are following my play and Norwegian chess players are following more keenly. On its part, the Norwegian Government is supporting the Chess Olympiad 2014 in Norway.

-- I am following it as a chess player and I don’t have any favourites. (About the ongoing FIDE World Cup in Tromso, Norway.)

-- I respect Anand. But I don’t fear him. Am pleased with all the arrangements here.

-- Of course, I should recognise that Anand is the World Champion. He is a great player. But the kind of form he is in now gives me confidence. I have been successful in the last few outings with him.

-- As along as I am in top shape and work on the game, I think, I have every chance to win. I am sure anyone will go into a world championship with a supreme belief that you will win. I also will come back to Chennai with the belief that everything is in my favour.

-- I would have been more comfortable playing in my hometown, so local support would surely help Anand. The home town advantage might not be big for a chess player compared to other sportspersons, but then, I believe that Anand would be starting the match with a psychological advantage. (On choice of World Chess Championship 2013 venue.)

-- I think any match for the world championship will be very tough. He is one of the all-time best players and he will be eager to show his game strength in his hometown, Chennai

-- If I am able to have more energy and keep my concentration, then there is all the possibility that I will win. Similarly, Anand has been in the game for a longer time and I don’t think he would be surprised by anything. He will surely be in his finest shape for the match and I will also concentrate on doing my best.

-- He's is a special player. I hope to get the better of him. He is a great player and the world champion. Yes, it has given me confidence having been successful in our last meetings. But there will be a different Anand here (for the World Championship match).

-- I don't know (how to look at it now). What I do know is that I was not motivated to play then for various reasons. This time I was quite motivated to play the qualification and also motivated for the match. (On pulling out from the previous World Chess Championship cycle.)

-- To play well in a match is my main motivation. I'm looking forward to the match. And it's going to be a great match.

-- Kramnik has a serious reputation of being a loose cannon. So I won't read too much into his assertion of Anand. (On Kramnik recently saying Anand feared Carlsen.)

-- In general, it's perhaps more appropriate to impose fines rather than making a player forfeit the game. (FIDE Zero-Tolerance policy on reaching the board for start of play.)

-- In general I try to win... and by all means. And sometimes it's too much, sometimes I overstep. But majority of the times, it pays off. Attaining balance, I guess, is something that you have within. (Now isn't that a typical Indian metaphysical statement!?)

-- I don't know. This theory itself is a bit inflated. Both Anand and I deserve our rating. (On recent chess ratings inflation.)

-- Of course it (Toiletgate: the world chess championship 2006 cheating controversy between Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik) was not good for the game. It just got out of hand. And I genuinely hope there will be no such controversies this time. Anand always behaves correctly. Everything would be decided on the chess board and that's how it should be.

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We've been celebrating the World Chess Championship 2013. The new World Chess Champion is Magnus Carslen, but we will continue to post links, views, features surrounding the World Chess Championship 2013 for the sheer joy of having witnessed chess history being created. Feel free to share opinion, links, and even point out errors - no matter which side you have been cheering for. Let's just continue celebrating a historic chess event. (Email: editor@blackandwhiteindia.com)